ROOF TOP VEG PLOT: Planting Guide

Wendy Shillam’s roof top plot will be of interest to anyone wanting to grow edibles in an urban location. Situated five floors up in London W1 and five minutes from Oxford Circus, this unlikely garden makes use of raised beds with only six inches of soil. Wendy grows herbs and salad crops organically. There is a tiny greenhouse full of tomatoes and cucumbers. An elder bush, roses and Japanese wineberries protect the beds from high winds. A grapevine flowers and fruits happily above a sunny arbour.. Workshops: This year Wendy is running two small workshops (maximum six persons) on Sunday 21st May and Sunday 4th June (from 2.00pm to 5.00pm). Entitled ‘Leaf Lore’, she’ll be sharing the knowhow she’s learned over the years about challenging urban locations. The workshop includes growing information, a tasting and nutritional tips. The workshop will suit anyone who wants to improve their diet by growing in pots, on a windowsill, a balcony or on a rooftop, whether in sun or in shade. Book by phoning 07957 438 666 or email coffeeinthesquare@me.com. Workshops £70/person (includes refreshments). Private Tours: In addition the rooftop plot will be open by appointment throughout the fringe. It’s a small plot so appointments are necessary. Wendy will be happy to give your party (maximum six persons) a private tour of the garden. Book by phoning 07957 438 666 or email coffeeinthesquare@me.com. Tours £5/person See the separate workshop page for other events throughout the summer that are not part of the Chelsea Fringe.

Articles and Links about Rooftopvegplot

Chelsea Fringe 2014: A cheeky sideshoot takes root
Six of the Best at the Chelsea Fringe 2014 in The Telegraph 12 May 2014 by Ed Cumming
Wendy Shillam | Out of my shed
A short note about our opening for The Chelsea Fringe
Britains Best Back Gardens S01E01 [Full Episode] - YouTube
The Rooftopvegplot featured in the first episode of Britain's Best Gardens chosen by Alan Titchmarsh Go to 9min 27secs for the item on the rooftopvegplot.
My Tiny Veg Plot by Lia Leendertz | Waterstones
A great source-book, with lovely images of my garden and many other great urban patches by Mark Diacono
In The Green | FitzWest
Article about The Garden November 2015 Article
The Garden Edit
Fantastic photos by Amber Rowlands Journal entry from August, 2014

Visits by appointment please. Contact me on twitter @rooftopvegplot

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Planting Guide

This guide is pinned up by my desk. I find it displays all the information I need in order to plan the garden. Forget websites, forget databases, forget apps. At the very least it is a reminder that daily temperatures lag behind day length, a little, and that they lag behind frost dates by a good two months. I've identified the key crop varieties, and made some sort of an attempt to document when they should be planted and how long they take to mature. Of course maturation dates are difficult to predict. They can vary so much dependant upon variety and microclimate.